Montco Weekend: Simmery and Summery

It's definitely shorts and t-shirt weather in Valley Forge
and Montgomery County this weekend. But make sure your ensemble includes sturdy
walking shoes because there are plenty of reasons to get out and explore things
to do, see, hear and especially taste.

Restaurant Week - Ambler

Through July 18

The ample menus of Ambler have made it a not-to-be-missed
place for a great meal. Ambler Restaurant Week began July 11, but this
Friday-Saturday-Sunday period is probably the most convenient opportunity to
dig in. More than a dozen chefs - including those at Dettera
Restaurant and Wine Bar - will plate their best dishes, at prices that
won't drain your vacation budget.

A Midsummer Night's Dream -
Playcrafters of Skippack

July 14-16

Is there anything more exciting than a theatrical opening
night? The talented company of the Playcrafters
of Skippack bring to life Shakespeare's magical tale of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The comedy
features fairies and sprites, love potions and plot twists, a
play-within-a-play and a character turned into a donkey. Midsummer continues to July 30.

Broadway on Butler 2016 - Act II Playhouse

July 14-17, 20-24

When Act II Playhouse
mounts a new production, it's generally best to see it sooner rather than
later, as tickets become harder to obtain over time. That is surely to be the
case with Broadway on Butler 2016, which has a hard close of July 24. A
talented cast of three performers riffs through musicals that cover everything
from Irving Berlin to Wicked.

Concert: Jake's Rockin' Country - Abington Art Center

July 14

The Susquehanna Bank Stage's summer concert series kicks off
the 2016 season at the Abington
Art Center with Jake's Rockin' Country. These good-ole musicians have
verifiable rockabilly skill with steel guitar, fiddle, drums, bass, guitar,
piano and vocals and a set list that ranges from bluegrass to rock.

Peter Pan - Methacton Community Theater

July 15-16, 21-23

Fly on over to Perkiomen
Valley Middle School - East (100 Kagey Road, Collegeville) for a production
sure to set your imagination soaring. It's Peter
Pan, in all his musical, swashbuckling, tick-tocky, adventurous,
pixie-dusted glory. Methacton Community Theater's evening performances are at
7:30; matinees at 2 p.m.

A Hill of Unity - Glencairn Museum

July 15-16

This weekend, Glencairn Museum's ongoing exhibit relates to
the founding of the borough that we now know as the Bryn
Athyn Historic District. Take a deep dive into the area's familial history,
in celebration of its 100th anniversary. The display includes the actual
Welsh-English dictionary used to create the name "Bryn Athyn" itself.

Annual Carnival - East Greenville Fire Company

July 16-19

Chances are you'll see, hear and sniff this event well
before getting onsite at Station 38
(401 Washington Street). That's not surprising, considering the whirling,
blazing rides, the talented live-music lineup and the great food. One of the
many draws is bingo, which, by Saturday night, should be featuring a large
jackpot.

Fireworks - Royersford

July 16

The carnival at Sacred
Heart Church, Royersford, runs Thursday-Sunday with rides, games and food.
But it comes to a big-bang ending on July 16 with a fireworks display at dusk.
The church is at Lewis Road and Walnut Street, and the pyrotechnics show is
free.

Graham Nash - Keswick Theatre

July 16

Graham Nash is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
and two-time Songwriter Hall of Fame Inductee, Grammy Award winner, a New York
Times best-selling author and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (so
that's Sir Graham Nash to you). He's
currently on tour, promoting a new studio album This Path Tonight, and the Keswick Theatre
has him front-and-center.

Grist Mill Day - Morris Arboretum

July 17

Morris
Arboretum will help you escape from the workday grind. It's Grist Mill Day,
when the 160-year-old Springfield Mill cranks to life to turn corn into flour.
Best of all, the end product is then baked into muffins for visitors to sample.
Hours are 1-4 p.m.

Peter Max Meet & Greet - Wentworth Gallery

July 17

Baby boomers! Here's a chance to meet one of the pop icons
of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The colorful and distinct artwork of Peter
Max is on display at Wentworth Gallery
in King of Prussia. Max's psychedelic style encapsulated an entire era,
reflected in print, portraiture, advertising and even such films as the
Beatle's Yellow Submarine (1968).

Victorian Tea - Pennypacker Mills

July 17

Got a history buff in your circle of friends? Bully for
them! The quaint setting of Pennypacker Mills
is the ideal location to spend some time with Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th
President of the United States. The Hero of San Juan Hill will join
participants with a sip of tea served by period-dressed hosts and hostesses
while speaking about his life and times. Following the remarks by TR, guests
can engage in a Q&A and pose for pictures.

Tours - Hope Lodge

July 17

Originally named "Whitemarsh Estate," Hope Lodge is a Georgian country mansion built between 1743 and
1748. During the autumn of 1777, Washington's Continental Army spent six weeks
camped at nearby Whitemarsh. During the encampment, Hope Lodge was used as both
a hospital and officers' quarters. The estate is not open year-round (it closes
October-April), so visitors need to take every available opportunity -
especially summers - to explore this significant space.

Honey Bees - Norristown Farm Park

July 17

Having trouble keeping the kids bzzzy this summer? Take them
to Norristown
Farm Park for this sweet program on honeybees. The park's resident
beekeeper will also explain how to get involved in starting a hive at home, a
great hobby that not only benefits the local ecosystem but can be financially
rewarding as well.

Link these events together for an entire
weekend escape. Then, check into a Montgomery County hotel that puts
you in close proximity to all that's going on. You'll not only have an easy
commute to all that's happening, you'll also have a comfortable and relaxing
retreat when you need to ease back the pace a little.